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NHL Picks

NHL Picks: Bruins vs. Maple Leafs Game 6

The Boston Bruins were ahead 3-1 in their series with the Toronto Maple Leafs and were coming back home. Can they get the job done for our NHL Picks with this one?

While most people thought they
tuck the Leafs in and put them to bed, the Bruins received quite the rude
awakening. The Leafs upended Boston to force Game 6 but can they finally win on
their home ice to extend the series to Game 7?

The Boston Bruins can win because…

Toronto has not played well at home in this series. So far,
this series has been all about the road warriors as the road team has won four
of the five games.

People making their NHL picks should be cautious in backing
the Leafs in Game 6. Boston actually outplayed Toronto in Game 5 in the second
and third period, but showed up completely asleep for the first. That turned
out to be the difference. James Reimer stood on his head but it’s unlikely that
he does so again if the Bruins keep peppering him with shots.

They’ve put a lot of volume on net this series, averaging 42
shots per game. In the first four games, doing that netted them 15 goals. In
Game 5, it only netted them one. If they shoot that much again, they should get
to at least three, which should be enough to earn the win.

The Toronto Maple Leafs can win because…

This is a young team that’s gaining confidence. Playoff
hockey is a relatively new concept to a lot of young Maple Leafs but you can
clearly see that as the series progresses, the Bruins edge in experience
becomes smaller and smaller. Players like Reimer, Gardiner and van Riemsdyk are
growing stronger by the game.

The Leafs were under a lot of pressure in their first two
games at home. They played tight and scared, and feared going down 3-1. That’s
exactly what happened but in Game 5, this team played with a reckless abandon –
almost relieved to have no expectations – and that should carry over into Game
6. Most NHL odds makers already read this team their last rites, so they should
be able to just relax and focus on having some fun this Sunday.

Outlook
& Pick

Toronto is going to be a tough out but I think Boston gets
the job done. They are averaging 42 shots per game and I don’t see Reimer being
able to stand on his head two games in a row. In the other games this series,
he was a liability. In the regular season, Reimer had a much higher GAA at home
(2.72) than on the road (2.18) and that trend has continued in this series.
Reimer has given up nine goals in the two games at the Air Canada Centre
compared to just seven goals in the three games in Boston. Look for Reimer to
be the main reason why the Bruins advance.